[nicholas421]

After owning 3 NSX's in the past 5 years I figure it's time to move on to something else. I've test driven the 993 and loved it. I've never driven a 968 before. I realize the 968 won't give me the same performance numbers, but will it give me the same thrill? I know that's highly subjective but I'd like to hear the opinions of those who've owned or driven both. If I can get the same enjoyment from a car that's a third in cost.... hey why not?



I found a 1992 Red/Tan 968 Cab locally. I am going to take a look at it tonight:

3 owners

74,000 miles

timing belt due (last done at 40k)

rear tires need replacing

no accidents

service records from past 8 years

no scratchs or dents (minor rock chips)



He is asking $15,500. Is this a good price? How much should I expect to pay for a timing belt/water pump major service from a dealer?



I do not know 968's at all. What 968-specific issues should I be looking for while inspecting the car. Are there any must-fix/replace items I should make sure was done on the car?



Thanks!!

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[flash]

15.5k is a decent price for a clean car at that mileage



tip?

hows's the top?

interior?



check the suspension carefully - at this age and milage, you could easily be looking at shocks and struts - look for leaks that could have wiped out bushings



check the AC - 92s use R-12 - conversion is not generally cheap - R-12 is hard to come by



absolutely have a mechanic YOU TRUST check the car



where is the car? if you get serious about it, one of us could probably go and take a look at it

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[Greimann]

Hi Nicholas.



Intead of rehashing all the pluses and minuses of the 968 model here, take a look at all the past posts in the Buyers Guide and Posts any Owner Should Read categories. Lots of good info.

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[ether_joe]

welcome Nicholas! The NSX is also one of my favs and I will own one at some point. I think it will come next, either that or a 928.



there are some people on the board who are getting siginficant power increases with modest modifications, and there is a new player in the game, RS Barn aka 'turbocup' on these forums, who is putting some great R&D into tuning our rides. So I say it's a GREAT time to get into a 968.



Where are you located?



Sean

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[nicholas421]

thanks guys for the response.



I'm in the Detroit area... as is the car I'm looking at. I'm waiting for a call from Bill Cook Porsche for a quote on a PPI and timing belt service.



I'm not all that hungry for horse power. My first 2 NSX's were NA. My last one was twin turboed. It was way more power than I ever needed.



I am looking forward to having my wife AND my 4 year old son in the car with me.



It's funny how things work. I have a blank Capital One check that was initially ear marked for a Ferrari 355. Within the past month, I've changed my mind to a Viper, NSX, 996, 993, .... and now a 968. In the end, I don't think I can justify a $1000+/month payment for a toy.



Here's a picture of my last ride:

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[ron1688]

I have both, a 94 nsx with suspension mods, intake and exhaust and a 94 cab with header, intake, chip, high flow cat and cat back exhaust mods. I can tell you that they are two totally different cars and you will miss the growl the NSX makes, the 8000 redline and the go cart handling. On the other hand, you drive the 968 and you will appreciate the balance and the it factor and forget about the NSX for a while. I switched between the two as my daily drivers and leave the jetta and the truck in the garage. After a few days in the NSX, I would start longing for the 968 and vice a versa.. Life doesnt get any better if you can have both...





[quote name='nicholas421' date='Mar 24 2006, 08:06 AM']After owning 3 NSX's in the past 5 years I figure it's time to move on to something else.  I've test driven the 993 and loved it.  I've never driven a 968 before.  I realize the 968 won't give me the same performance numbers, but will it give me the same thrill?  I know that's highly subjective but I'd like to hear the opinions of those who've owned or driven both.  If I can get the same enjoyment from a car that's a third in cost.... hey why not?



I found a 1992 Red/Tan 968 Cab locally.  I am going to take a look at it tonight:

3 owners

74,000 miles

timing belt due (last done at 40k)

rear tires need replacing

no accidents

service records from past 8 years

no scratchs or dents (minor rock chips)



He is asking $15,500.  Is this a good price?  How much should I expect to pay for a timing belt/water pump major service from a dealer?



I do not know 968's at all.  What 968-specific issues should I be looking for while inspecting the car.  Are there any must-fix/replace items I should make sure was done on the car?



Thanks!!

[right][post="17935"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

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[Mark]

Damn! I was getting ready to fly to Detroit to buy that car but he is not available this weekend. He has all the records and I think the belts/pump were at 48k but forgot the time elapsed.



It needs or will need rear tires and brake pads I believe.

He had the front end resprayed last year to take care of chips but I'm sure it has acquired new ones.





Good luck

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[Mark]

[quote name='nicholas421' date='Mar 24 2006, 12:37 PM']I am looking forward to having my wife AND my 4 year old son in the car with me. [/quote]





I don't think it has rear seats so you won't get both in at the same time.

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[Anchorman]

If it doesn't have rear seats (my 95 didn't), you can install them (as I did). However, using a child safety seat is tough - I don't bother, my grandson loves sitting back there, does the seat belts by himself (he's now 6, started riding in the back three years ago).

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[ether_joe]

[quote name='ron1688' date='Mar 24 2006, 11:39 AM']I have both, a 94 nsx with suspension mods, intake and exhaust and a 94 cab with header, intake, chip, high flow cat and cat back exhaust mods.  I can tell you that they are two totally different cars and you will miss the growl the NSX makes, the 8000 redline and the go cart handling. On the other hand, you drive the 968 and you will appreciate the balance and the it factor and forget about the NSX for a while. I switched between the two as my daily drivers and leave the jetta and the truck in the garage. After a few days in the NSX, I would start longing for the 968 and vice a versa..  Life doesnt get any better if you can have both...[/quote]



ron I still gotta come visit man



I salivate whenever I think about an NSX.

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[ether_joe]

[quote name='nicholas421' date='Mar 24 2006, 10:37 AM']In the end, I don't think I can justify a $1000+/month payment for a toy.[/quote]



with a budget well below the cars you mentioned, you can get yourself an excellent condition 968, then send it to Pete @ RSBarn and it he'll send it back with ~ 300hp.



how bout THEM apples?

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[midblue]

I want to know what kind of HP you got out of a twin turbo'ed NSX!?!



One of my all time favorite cars.



Ron

94 coupe/6 speed

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[Mark]

Also it is one of the few cabs with factory LSD. Which makes it even more valuable to me. I think Nick is over looking at it now.

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[nicholas421]

I just got back from checking out the car. The color difference from the respray is quite noticeable but still looks nice. The interior is not as clean as I'd hoped it'd be. The red "!" light was on. He says something was wrong with the air bag. He's getting it checked out next week. For some reason I thought it was a 2+2. I saw the DIY on converting it so that wouldn't be an issue.



I stalled the car 4 times... quite embarrassing. Twice in what I thought was reverse... turned out I was in 6th <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> then twice in 1st. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> It was VERY different from the NSX.



I am on the fence at this point. I'm still waiting for Bill Cook Porsche to call me back about the PPI and timing belt. So much for customer service.

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[douglas751]

Nicholas,



I live in Sterling Heights. You can drive my newly aquired Red 1993 968 Coupe. LSD, Six Speed. Then you can compare Coupe to Cab and try a car with LSD (not on LSD though).



Let me know, we can set something up at my place or we could meet at the garage the works on my car in Waterford called MUNKS.



Best Regards,

-Doug

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[ether_joe]

[quote name='nicholas421' date='Mar 24 2006, 06:07 PM']I just got back from checking out the car.  The color difference from the respray is quite noticeable but still looks nice.  The interior is not as clean as I'd hoped it'd be.  The red "!" light was on.  He says something was wrong with the air bag.  He's getting it checked out next week.  For some reason I thought it was a 2+2.  I saw the DIY on converting it so that wouldn't be an issue.



I stalled the car 4 times... quite embarrassing.  Twice in what I thought was reverse... turned out I was in 6th  <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />    then twice in 1st.     <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />   It was VERY different from the NSX. 



I am on the fence at this point.  I'm still waiting for Bill Cook Porsche to call me back about the PPI and timing belt.  So much for customer service.[/quote]



I stalled first time out too. I heard that the NSX is super easy to drive. . .



BTW if you aren't capitvated by this car I say wait. There will be another that will set your heart on fire <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wub.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Mark]

Doug the car he looked at has the LSD.



Nick, The ! light is quite common and probably just needs to be reset. Sorry to hear the respray is that noticeable.

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[douglas751]

OK Mark, thanks for pointing that out. You are more attentive than I am.

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[ron1688]

[quote name='ether_joe' date='Mar 24 2006, 02:23 PM']ron I still gotta come visit man



I salivate whenever I think about an NSX.

[right][post="17959"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



I'm in the bay area(Daly City) all weekend long with the NSX if you want to check it out. The 968 is in the garage with the top down waiting for the sun to come out and play... Going from the NSX to the 968, you definitely have to get the cab instead of the coupe...

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[ds968]

NSX is the only other car I was looking at when I bought the 968. After more than 20 years of driving Porsches, it was tough to consider anything else, but the NSX was definitely a serious consideration - I love those lines !! A Ferrari at half the price and 1/100 of the maintenance hassles.

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